From George Onyejiuwa and Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Former deputy governor of Imo State under the short-lived administration of Emeka Ihedioha, Gerald Irona, has been arrested by operatives of the state police command.
It was learnt that the former deputy governor, who was arrested yesterday, at his Owerri home, located at the Civic Centre, was arrested by a combined team of anti-kidnapping squad and the Ebubeagu operatives.
However, in a press statement by a media aide to the erstwhile Imo State number two citizen, Destiny Ugorji, accused the Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, of being behind the arrest of his principal as part of governor’s strategy towards weakening the main opposition in the state, ahead of the nationwide states assembly elections.
Ugoorji also said that even when the ex-deputy governor has filled all the bail conditions that the Imo State government is pressurising the state police commissioner to detain him till the state assembly poll in the state is over.
The statement which read: “As part of its strategy towards weakening opposition in the state, the Imo State Government, Wednesday, orchestrated the arrest of the immediate past deputy governor, Engr. Gerald Irona, over trumped-up charges.
Irona’s arrest came on the heels of a scheduled House of Assembly and gubernatorial election, fixed to hold nationwide on Saturday, March 11, 2023.
“As of the time of this statement, Wednesday afternoon, the former deputy governor had written his statement to the police, a bail bond issued, signed, and all the bail conditions fulfilled.
“There is, however, a twist, following pressure from the Imo State Government House, allegedly ordering the state police command to detain the former deputy governor until after Saturday’s election. Let it be clear to Nigerians and the entire world that Wednesday’s arrest of former deputy governor, Engr. Gerald Irona, is politically motivated and Governor Hope Uzodinma is clearly behind it.
“It is on record that a day before the presidential and national assembly elections, the home of the House of Representatives candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Kingsley Uju, was invaded by agents of the state, after earlier attempts on his life.
“The CUPP spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere’s home was also severely attacked, lives and property destroyed, after a series of attempts on his life.
“Senator Hope Uzodinma must realise that power is transient, and nobody occupies the seat of power forever. Nigerians must rise to resist this fascist regime in Imo State.
“Let it be known that there is no amount of intimidation that will save the unpopular Hope Uzodinma-led administration in Imo State from another round of defeat in Saturday’s election.”
Reacting to the arrest, the state commissioner for information and strategy, Declan Emelumba, denied involvement of the state government.
Emelumba said a warrant of arrest had earlier been issued for his arrest by the police who he said have declared him wanted.
He said: “What has the state government got to do with his arrest? Is he contesting for the state House of Assembly election on Saturday? When he was not arrested in the last election, did he win in his polling booth?
“This is a person that has been declared wanted by the police for being in possession of government properties, and he has refused to release them; now he has been arrested, for what is the business of the state government in it,” Emelumba said.